Page 115 of Master of Paradise
Amanda whistled appreciatively, but Jenniferfor once in her life was not interested in a man's worth. She wassuffering from acutemal-de-mare ."I'll die if the shipdoesn't hold still!"
Amanda ventured on deck and saw Rafe stridingtoward her.
"We'll be in Nassau tomorrow. Are you readyfor breakfast?"
"Oh I am, I am, and my poor little Nicholasmust be starved. Do you have enough food for us?"
He laughed. "Before this voyage is over, Ihope to put all your curves back." As his bold eyes swept over herslight figure, she blushed and felt shy.
"Jennifer is seasick. Is there anything I cando to help her?"
"I'll send some dry biscuit and wine. She'llbe fine after a couple of days. Take Nicholas to the galley and eatyour fill, Mandy."
She couldn't get over the food. There wascoffee and tea and chocolate with real sugar. There was ham andeggs and hush puppies and grits. An assortment of fruit and jam andbiscuits made her mouth water. She watched Nicholas carefully sothat he didn't overload his stomach with the unaccustomed richfood.
Back in the cabin she tended Jennifer withgentle hands. She urged her sister to nibble the dry biscuit andsip the wine, while Nicholas played contentedly with the woodenstopper from the wine bottle.
It was mid-afternoon before Jenny settleddown to peaceful slumber, so Amanda took her son up on deck forsome fresh air. The sun shone brilliantly on the waves and the airwas soft and warm. Rafe waved and beckoned for her to join him onthe forecastle, as he stood at the great ship's wheel.
She watched him with pleasure. Sailing wassecond nature to this man, like breathing. His open-necked shirthad had the sleeves cut away for freedom of movement, and as hissure hands lightly gripped the wheel, the muscles of his arms stoodout, brown and hard. She breathed in the salt tang and shouted, "Ifeel as if a great burden has been lifted from my shoulders."
"Take supper with me tonight," he called intothe wind.
She nodded her assent. "After I put Nicholasto bed."
"Not tired," the child insisted.
She laughed down at him and hugged him to hertightly. It felt good to be alive and free.
That evening, Amanda felt guilty as shechanged her dress and donned the only other one she now owned-- aplain gray with white collar and cuffs. Jennifer had managed someclear broth and simply wanted to be left alone, so when Nicholasfinally lowered his black lashes to his rosy, windswept cheeks, sheslipped from the cabin, down the narrow gangway to Rafe'scabin.
It was spacious and so well-appointed, thatif it were not for the roll of the deck beneath your feet, youwould not have known you were aboard ship. A small table and twocaptain's chairs were bolted to the floor, and as Rafe drew herinto the cabin, a young sailor brought in a huge tray filled withsilver warming dishes, then quickly departed.
"Come and sit. Tonight we shall do more thaneat, we will dine." He lit candles, and when he removed the coverfrom the first dish, the delicious aroma of lobster bisque teasedher senses until her mouth watered. Mounds of Spanish ricegarnished with black olives tempted her to take a largeportion.
"I can't believe it's been over two yearssince I've seen you. You look even younger than you did then," hemarveled.
"You never came back for the cotton..." shebegan.
He laughed. "Cotton? I found a moreprofitable cargo than cotton to take out of the South."
"What?" she puzzled.
"Her citizens were willing to trade theirgreat wealth for safe passage."
"Ah." She thought privately that there wassomething immoral about such dealings. It was taking advantage andexploiting people's fear to pay any price for deliverance, as shehad done. When she glanced up, he was watching her.
"I always loved to watch you eat, Mandy." Hisvoice was intimate and he caressed her name as it fell from hislips.
"I... think I've had enough to eat." As shearose, he was beside her in an instant, helping her from thechair.
His arms swept about her and he bent his headto claim what he'd desired since the day she had become hisfriend's wife.
Amanda swayed close to his body.Ah God,to have a man's arms about me again makes me feel safe and secureand protected.It was a feeling she'd not had in years. As herresistance melted, she was a little shocked at herself.Am I sostarved for affection I will fall into a man's hand like a peachripe for the plucking?Was it so very wrong to want to beloved? And yet, if it was right, why did she feel so guilty?
She pulled away and he let her go with awhispered, "Go and look in that cabinet. It's filled with deliciousthings. Brandy, liqueurs, wine. Pick us out something to drink.You'll find chocolates, little pots of Russian caviar, all kinds ofthings to tempt you."
She opened the cabinet doors and ran herfinger over the wine labels. Her thoughts were all in disarray. Sheknew Rafe desired her, and she also knew she'd been lonely andempty for a very long time. Her attention was caught by a lovelyminiature carved chest with gold handles. She lifted the lid andthere to her great astonishment lay her diamond necklace. Sheturned and he was beside her, reaching for her.
